Amsterdam to Barcelona by Campervan
The Route Overview
Total distance: 1,500 km (one way)
Recommended duration: 10-14 days
Best season: May-June or September-October
Budget: 1,200-1,800 EUR (van rental, fuel, camping, food)
This is Europe's classic north-to-south road trip. You cross four countries, three climate zones, and go from flat Dutch polders to Mediterranean beaches.
Day 1-2: Amsterdam to Belgium
Start early to beat Amsterdam traffic. Take the A2 south through Utrecht and Eindhoven. Cross into Belgium near Maastricht.
Stop: Liege. Park at the Quai de la Boverie (free, central). Walk to the Carré district for dinner. The stairs to the citadel burn off the beer.
Sleep: Aire de Camping-Car in Liege or push to Namur.
Day 3-4: Belgian Ardennes to Luxembourg
The Ardennes forest is worth a full day. Detour through La Roche-en-Ardenne and Bouillon. Kayak the Semois river if weather permits (rentals from 20 EUR).
Enter Luxembourg near Arlon. Fuel here - Luxembourg has the cheapest diesel in Western Europe (often 20-30 cents less per liter than Belgium).
Sleep: Camping Kalkesdelt in Ettelbruck or wild camp in the Mullerthal forest.
Day 5-6: Luxembourg to Alsace
Cross into France at Thionville. The Alsace wine route starts around Colmar and runs south through picture-perfect villages.
Must-see stops:
Parking is tight in these villages. Arrive before 10am or after 5pm. Most villages have designated motorhome parking on the outskirts.
Sleep: Camping de l'Ill in Mulhouse or the aire in Colmar.
Day 7-8: Jura Mountains to Lyon
The Jura is underrated. Dense forests, limestone cliffs, and almost no tourists. Stop at Baume-les-Messieurs for a spectacular natural amphitheater.
Push on to Lyon for a city day. This is France's food capital - don't waste it on campervan cooking. Park at the P+R stations outside center (safe, cheap, metro access). Splurge on a traditional bouchon meal.
Sleep: Lyon overnight is tricky - the P+R lots don't allow overnight. Camping de Lyon is 10 km north but has metro access.
Day 9-10: Rhone Valley to Provence
Follow the Rhone south. The landscape opens up, the sky turns bluer, the air smells like herbs.
Detours worth taking:
This is lavender country in June-July. The Plateau de Valensole is the most famous location.
Sleep: Aire de camping-car in Saint-Remy-de-Provence or camping in the Alpilles.
Day 11-12: Provence to Mediterranean Coast
Cross into the Camargue wetlands. Pink flamingos, white horses, black bulls. The landscape is surreal.
Stop in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer for the first beach of the trip. Then coast along to Montpellier or skip directly to the Spanish border.
Sleep: Camping on the beach is illegal but tolerated at Espiguette beach in Le Grau-du-Roi (just don't be obvious about it).
Day 13-14: Into Catalonia
Cross the border at Le Perthus. Stock up on cheap Spanish ham and wine at the massive border shopping centers (tacky but useful).
The Costa Brava between the border and Barcelona is beautiful but crowded in summer. Tossa de Mar has the best combination of beach and old town.
Arrival in Barcelona:
Barcelona is not campervan-friendly. Park at a guarded P+R on the outskirts and use public transport. Camping Masnou (20 km north) has train access to the city.
Budget Breakdown
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Money-saving tips: